Volkswagen T-Roc Review (2017-present)
Volkswagen T-Roc cars for sale
4.0
Expert review
Pros
Roomy boot on front-wheel-drive models
Comfortable ride
Engaging handling
Cons
Lacklustre interior quality on pre-facelift cars
Rear seats lack flexibility
Reduced boot space in 4Motion models
The CarGurus verdict
The Volkswagen T-Roc is one of the best small SUVs you can buy, whether you are looking at a brand new car or a used example. The cabin is roomy, the ride is comfortable and all trim levels are reasonably well equipped. The engines balance performance and economy, and the T-Roc is satisfying to drive.
We reckon the SE specification offers the best value for money. The high-spec models are tempting, but considerably more expensive considering that SE comes with everything you really need.
The biggest disappointment is the interior finish in pre-facelift cars. Like the smaller T-Cross, a used T-Roc can be disappointingly cheap-looking inside, with unappealing hard plastics. If you want even more interior space and practicality, a Skoda Karoq offers more room for passengers and luggage for a similar price. And if you can manage with a little less space, the Ford Puma is more rewarding to drive. As an all-rounder, though, the T-Roc is close to the top of the small SUV class.
What is the Volkswagen T-Roc?
The VW T-Roc went on sale in 2017 to cater for the public’s fast-growing appetite for compact SUVs. It sits between the T-Cross and Tiguan in VW’s range as a kind of Golf-sized crossover. The T-Roc was well received at launch, with very positive reviews from the motoring press.
Rivals include countless midsize SUV offerings, from the ubiquitous Nissan Qashqai to the swanky Volvo XC40. In 2022 the T-Roc was given a mid-life facelift, with small revisions to the exterior styling, an updated interior, and a new trim line-up.
How practical is it?
The T-Roc has a boot capacity of 445 litres, although that drops to 392 litres for the four-wheel-drive 4Motion models. The adjustable height boot floor that comes on front-wheel-drive models can be lowered to create usefully more space than you'd get in a Golf hatchback. Overall, the T-Roc’s boot is almost a match for the Mini Countryman's 450 litres, and beats the Audi Q2's 405 litres. However, although the rear bench splits and folds 60/40, it doesn't slide back and forth on runners like the back seats in the cheaper VW T-Cross.
The cabin is roomy in the front and in the rear seats, with plentiful leg- and headroom so long as you haven't opted for the panoramic sunroof. Note, however, that the large transmission tunnel and narrow middle seat will make it a squeeze to fit three adults in the back.
The T-Roc’s driving position is spot on, with plenty of steering wheel and seat adjustment to suit drivers of different shapes and sizes. In earlier models the cabin plastics were not as polished as you’ll find in a Golf. VW addressed this for the 2022 facelift with the addition of a soft-touch panel across the top of the dash.
Note, that while the T-Roc is unusual for being available as a Cabriolet, that model only has four seats.
What’s it like to drive?
One of the T-Roc’s stand-out qualities is its comfortable ride. It copes really well with lumpy road surfaces, although if you choose one of the pricier models on big alloy wheels, you feel bumps in the road that bit more.
The optional Dynamic Chassis Control lets you choose between different settings to make the car smoother-riding or more sporty. It's not a cheap extra, though, and given that the standard set-up is pretty good, we wouldn't rush to spend the extra.
The flipside to the comfy suspension is more body roll when you turn into a corner than you'd experience in some rivals, like the Seat Ateca. However, the T-Roc corners neatly and we think VW has got the ride and handling balance just about right.
There's a choice of petrol and diesel engines. The entry-level 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo petrol engine at launch had 113bhp, but was later replaced by a 108bhp engine that meets the tougher RDE2 emissions standard. Don't go thinking that because this is the base engine it's going to feel underpowered. It feels a lot stronger than the raw figures suggest.
For a bit more poke, there's a 148bhp 1.5-litre TSI Evo engine. This is noticeably quicker than the 1.0-litre petrol, and would be our recommendation if your budget allows.
If you want a small SUV with GTI-style performance, you can go for the more powerful 187bhp 2.0 TSI. This version uses VW's 4Motion 4x4 system to make the most of its power, even on slippery roads.
This model is more than quick enough for most tastes, but the 296bhp Volkswagen T-Roc R is in a different league entirely. This four-wheel-drive performance SUV is a capable rival to the Audi SQ2 and Cupra Ateca, but a Volkswagen Golf R is more affordable and more fun.
The diesel T-Roc is a lot slower but could make a much more sensible buy for high-mileage drivers. The entry-level 113bhp unit’s performance is fairly pedestrian, and the TDI engine is noisier than the TSI petrols. However, it's the most fuel-efficient car in the range. There's also a 148bhp 2.0-litre TDI, which trades a little economy for much stronger performance.
If you go for the T-Roc Cabriolet, there's no diesel option available. Instead, there's a choice of the higher-powered 1.0-litre TSI and the 1.5 TSI petrols. You lose some passenger space and boot space if you opt for the convertible bodystyle, so it's something of a niche choice.
Technology, equipment and infotainment
At launch, T-Roc trim levels started with the the S, and ran through the SE, United, Black Edition, Design, SEL, R-Line and R. Entry-level cars came with 16-inch alloys, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, climate control, front and rear electric windows, and a DAB radio, so there's a decent roster of kit without needing to upgrade to one of the more expensive specifications.
As of the 2022 facelift, the trim line-up was simplified. It kicks off with the entry-level Life model, while buyers wanting more equipment (including the larger digital dial display) can choose either the Style trim as more of a luxury option, or the R-Line trim for a sportier-looking T-Roc.
The technology onboard the T-Roc mirrors what you’ll find in contemporary VWs. That largely means it’s thoughtfully presented and easy to use, although in our experience the touchscreen infotainment system in facelift models isn’t as intuitive to use as the setup in earlier T-Rocs.
Volkswagen T-Roc running costs
As we've mentioned, the diesels are the picks of the range if you want low fuel bills. The 113bhp 1.6-litre TDI returns up to 54.3mpg on the combined cycle. The 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel is only a little less economical, with a combined figure of up to 53.3mpg. That's with a six-speed manual gearbox. With a DSG auto it returns up to 51.4mpg. In real-world driving, any of the diesels should return 50mpg or so unless you have a heavy right foot.
The TSI petrols are economical by petrol standards. Reckon on close to 50mpg from the 1.0-litre TSI, and 40-45mpg from the 1.5. Manual cars will be slightly more economical than those with a DSG auto.
You won't be able to match that economy with the more powerful 187bhp 2.0-litre TSI. The combination of more power, four-wheel drive, and the Direct Shift Gearbox mean 35-40mpg is more likely. Go for the high-performance R version, and you can expect mpg in the mid to low 30s.
The R will be by far the most expensive T-Roc to tax, because the list price is the wrong side of £40,000. This means it attracts an annual car tax surcharge for five years once the original year's tax is up.
The R will also hit your bank balance hardest when it comes to insurance. It sits in group 34 of 50. The rest of the range varies from group 10 to 24. That's broadly in line with most rivals; in fact it exactly matches the group 10 to 24 spread of the Seat Ateca.
If you want to keep a lid on servicing bills, Volkswagen offers servicing plans that fix the cost and allow you to pay up front or monthly. However, Volkswagen is well served by independent specialists, often staffed by mechanics who used to work in franchised dealers, and these will usually undercut main dealer prices by a good chunk.
Note that no T-Roc is available with any kind of hybrid or electrified technology.
Volkswagen T-Roc reliability
Volkswagen tends to sit mid-table in reliability studies and owner satisfaction surveys. We wouldn't expect the T-Roc to be as trouble-free as a Toyota C-HR, but neither would we anticipate a litany of problems.
Some owners have trouble with a jerkiness when pulling away in T-Rocs fitted with the 1.5-litre TSI engine. A software update should fix the issue, but not all owners are completely happy with the car, even after the update.
There are some recalls to be aware of. One concerns the fitting for the head restraint, which may have been incorrectly welded to the bracket, making the restraint less effective in an accident. Cars affected by this fault were made between May and August 2018.
Another recall relates to the the adhesive bond between the upper and lower parts of the rear spoiler. An incorrect adhesive was used, which can lead to the upper part of the spoiler dropping off. Affected cars were made between 29 January 2018 and 12 June 2018.
Any Volkswagen dealer should be able to confirm if a car you are thinking of buying has recall work outstanding, or you can check for yourself using the recall checker on the gov.uk website.
The T-Roc has a three-year/60,000-mile warranty. That's pretty much the minimum length of cover you should expect these days. A Hyundai Kona protects against unexpected bills for longer, with five years of cover and no mileage limit.
- The T-Roc is a very safe car. The experts at Euro NCAP have given the VW a five-star rating, including a 96% score for adult occupant protection. Even entry-level cars have autonomous emergency braking, which has sensors that are able to detect pedestrians as well as other cars. Driver, passenger, front side, and curtain airbags are standard. So are Isofix mounting points to securely fit child seats to the two outer rear seats. SE spec and above adds Adaptive Cruise Control to keep the T-Roc a safe distance from the car in front when cruise control is active.
- It's not uncommon for compact SUVs to be front-wheel drive, despite their shrunken offroader appearance. Most T-Roc models send power to the front wheels, but the 187bhp 2.0 TSI and the 296bhp R use Volkswagen's 4Motion 4x4 system. Sensors monitor each wheel, and send power to the wheels with the most grip. In normal driving, 90% of the engine's power goes to the front wheels, and 10% to the rear. This is more fuel-efficient than a 50-50 split. But in extreme conditions up to 100% of the engine's power can go to the rear wheels. Off-road performance is unlikely to be a priority for T-roc buyers, but if you do head off the Tarmac, the 4Motion system should help the T-Roc cope.
- To be pedantic, the T-Roc's automatic gearbox is a mechatronic dual-clutch transmission. The seven-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) is effectively two gearboxes in one. The transmission is able to pre-select the next gear while accelerating. The control unit uses information such as engine speed, road speed, accelerator position and driving mode to select the ideal gear and to determine when to shift ratio. The control unit then implements the shift commands in a sequence of precisely co-ordinated actions. Each change takes less than four-hundredths of a second.
- If you can't decide between a hot hatchback and an SUV: choose the R. The combination of a 296bhp engine and all-wheel drive makes this a seriously rapid all-weather express. It carries its weight a little higher than a true hot hatch, but it still handles with great poise and agility. The downside is the R's sky-high price.
- If you want the best all-rounder: pick the 1.0 TSI SE. This may be the the entry-level engine but it performs well and achieves impressive mpg figures. SE spec has some worthwhile equipment upgrades. Unlike the basic S, a T-Roc SE is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (including wireless connection for CarPlay), and has electrically heated door mirrors and a ski-hatch for loading long items without folding the back seats.
- If you want a balance between performance and economy: go for the 148bhp 1.5 TSI. There's vim and vigour to the T-Roc's performance with this engine, and only a slight fuel economy penalty compared with the less powerful petrol models. Clever cylinder deactivation technology allows the engine to run on two cylinders rather than four under light loads, saving fuel and reducing emissions.
- If you want the most fuel-efficient T-Roc: pick a used model with the 113bhp 1.6 TDI. Although the engine isn't as smooth or as quiet as one of the TSI petrols, the diesel grumble is no more than a murmur once cruising on the motorway. The reward for putting up with a little bit more noise is excellent fuel economy.
